Combination hat and integral storage pouch

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a combination hat and integral storage pouch comprises a crown having a top portion including first and second layers joined together. The second layer has a closure means, such as a zipper, extending along a longitudinal midline from one end to another end thereof, and defines a space therebetween to store a portion of the hat. The hat also includes a sidewall extending essentially perpendicularly from the first and second layers, and sized to fit a wearer&#39;s head, and a brim extending outwardly from the crown and attached thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hats and more particularly to hat and integralstorage pouch combinations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Others have set forth hats that may include a pocket into which the hatfolds for storage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,892 B1 (Galigani)relates to a hat made from a supple and foldable material, comprising areversible pocket made in the hat, into which the hat can be folded andstored when not in use.

Others have also set forth hats that can be converted into other objectsand back. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,963 (Lieberman) relates to areversible doll/hat that can be altered from a doll into a wearable hatand back to a doll.

There exists a need for a hat with an integral storage pouch that has asimple, convenient design, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a combination hat and integral storagepouch that can be altered from a hat into a storage pouch and visaversa. The combination hat and integral storage pouch comprises a crownhaving a top portion including first and second layers joined together.The second layer has a closure means, such as a zipper, extending alonga longitudinal midline from one end to another end thereof, and definesa space there-between to store a portion of the hat. The hat alsoincludes a sidewall extending essentially perpendicularly from the firstand second layers, and sized to fit a wearer's head, and a brimextending outwardly from the crown and attached thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention together with its features and advantages will bebetter understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination hat and storage pouch ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the combination hat and integral storagepouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the combination hat and storage pouch of FIG.1, shown during the folding of the hat into the storage pouch; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the combination hat and storage pouch of FIG. 1,showing the hat within the storage pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the combination hat and integral storage pouch of thepresent invention, generally designated by reference number 10. Thecombination hat and integral storage pouch 10 includes several basicparts, shown in FIGS. 1-4. The combination hat and integral storagepouch 10 comprises a crown 11 having a top portion including first 12and second layers 15 joined together. The second layer 15 has a closuremeans 16 extending along a longitudinal midline from one end to anotherend thereof, and defines a space 17 therebetween to store a portion ofthe hat. The hat also includes a sidewall 13 extending essentiallyperpendicularly from the first 12 and second layers 15, and sized to fita wearer's head, and a brim 14 extending outwardly from the crown 11 andattached thereto.

The hat is made from a very supple and relatively thin material so thatit is as compact as possible once it has been folded up into theintegral storage pouch 18. The material is preferably cotton canvas, butit may also be, for example a variety of other materials, includingcorduroy, felt or satin, and may be made or woven from any natural orsynthetic fiber used for hat manufacturing, including nylon, polyester,rayon, wool, silk, cashmere, leather, suede, or combinations of any ofthe foregoing.

The hat 10 can be worn when the second layer 15 is inside the hat. Whenthe hat 10 is being worn or stored, the space 17 defined by the twolayers 12, 15 can also be used to store small items, such as coins,currency, keys and the like (not shown).

The second layer 15 is generally oval shaped or round to conform to thewearer's head, and may be sized accordingly, using conventional hatsizes.

The hat 10 can be inserted into its integral storage pouch 18 when thefirst 12 and second layers 15 are turned inside out, and the remainderof the crown 11 and brim 14 are inserted into the space 17 defined bythe first 12 and second layers 15.

The space 17 defined by the first 12 and second layers 15 can be closedby any means that allow reversible and repeated closure including azipper, snaps, buttons or a releasable hook and eye fastening tape,known as Velcro.

Positioning the closure means 16 so that it extends along a midline fromone end to another end of the second layer 15 enables simpler, lessbulky design, less expensive or complex manufacture, and a lesscumbersome article.

Thus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a zipper 16 is stitched or bound to twopieces of fabric that comprise the second layer 15. The second layer 15is stitched to the sidewall 13, which is in turn stitched to the brim14.

The hat and pouch combination of the present invention can be adapted toa large number of men's and ladies' hat designs, such as baseball caps,sailor hats, derbies, fishermen's hats, and the like.

Although some preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled inthe field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe appended claims.

1. A combination hat and integral storage pouch comprising: a crownhaving a top portion including first and second layers joined together,the second layer having a closure means extending along a longitudinalmidline from one end to another end thereof, the first and second layersdefining a space therebetween to store a portion of the hat, and asidewall extending essentially perpendicularly from the first and secondlayers, and sized to fit a wearer's head; and, a brim extendingoutwardly from the crown and attached thereto.
 2. The combination hatand integral storage pouch of claim 1, wherein the closure means is azipper.
 3. The combination hat and integral storage pouch of claim 1,wherein the closure means are snaps, buttons, or releasable hook and eyefastening tape.
 4. The combination hat and integral storage pouch ofclaim 2, wherein the first and second layers are essentially oval, andthe closure means is a zipper.
 5. The combination hat and integralstorage pouch of claim 2, wherein the second layer is inside the hatwhen the hat is placed on a wearer's head.
 6. The combination hat andintegral storage pouch of claim 5, wherein the first and second layersare turned inside out, and the remainder of the crown and brim areinserted into the space defined by the first and second layers.